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BANCROFT 

LIBRARY 
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THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 


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Being  a  Succinct  Account 
of  the  Last  Battle  that 
Wrested  Idaho  from  the 
Bondage  of  the  Indians. 


___  ^  ublisbecl  Inf  W)e 

lANKUN  (OUNTYH1STORICAL50CIETY 
AND  ^ONUMENT  (OMMITTEE 


HON.   M.   ALEXANDER,   GOVERNOR   of   IDAHO 

The   Man   who   Believes   in   Perpetuating   the   Memory   of   those 

Stalwart  Men  and  Women  who  laid  the  Foundation 

of  our  Great  State. 


LIBRARY 


B 

Introduction 

m 

@ome  time  ago  a  movement  was  started  which  had 
for  its  object  the  erection  of  a  fitting  monument  to 
the  memory  of  the  soldiers  who  fell  at  Battle  Creek 
on  January  29th,  1863,  and  to  mark  the  spot  where  the  last 
important  Indian  trouble  terminated.  The  matter  was  plac 
ed  before  the  county  commissioners  who  heartily  endorsed 
it  and  agreed  to  assist  in  its  erection.  At  the  suggestion  of 
that  board,  a  committee  of  prominent  men  in  all  parts  of 
the  county  was  formed  to  aid  in  securing  necessary  funds. 

This  committee  termed  its  organization  "The  Franklin 
County  Historical  Society,"  and  expressed  a  desire  to  per 
petuate  the  organization  even  after  the  monument  is  com 
pleted.  Since  Franklin  county  is  the  historical  corner  stone 
of  the  state,  it  was  deemed  important  that  historical  data  be 
gathered  from  the  rapidly  decreasing  pioneers  and  preserv 
ed  for  the  use  of  future  generations. 

As  an  indication  that  the  first  permanent  settlement 
was  made  in  this  county,  the  following  statements  are 
made:  The  first  permanent  white  homes  were  built  in  this 
county,  the  first  grist  mill  in  the  state  furnished  flour  for 
these  settlers,  this  flour  was  made  from  wheat  grown  un 
der  an  irrigation  ditch  which  was  the  first  of  its  kind  in  the 
territory.  The  first  Idaho  made  plow,  the  first  railroad,  and 
the  first  permanent  meeting  and  school  house  were  lo 
cated  in  Franklin  county. 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


While  all  of  those  things  are  important  the  battle  at 
Battle  Creek  is  one  of  the  most  interesting  incidents  con 
nected  with  the  history  of  the  state,  as  it  marked  the  close 
of  Indian  troubles  in  southern  Idaho.  The  battle  really 
meant  more  to  the  state  than  most  people  realize.  It  was  no 
mere  skirmish,  but  was  a  genuine  battle  in  which  many 
human  beings  lost  their  lives.  Some  idea  of  the  engagement 
may  be  had  from  the  story  which  is  given  in  this  brochure. 
It  is  as  authentic  as  careful  research  and  conversation  with 
the  settlers  who  remember  the  incident  can  make  it.  Of 
course  some  of  the  minor  details  may  not  be  exactly  cor- 
lect,  yet  in  the  main,  the  account  is  true.  We  are  indebted  to 
Colonel  Connor,  the  man  who  led  the  expedition  and  re 
ported  it  to  the  authorities  at  Washington,  to  Mr.  S.  P. 
Morgan,  compiler  of  the  historical  data  for  the  first  pioneer 
program,  to  N.  T.  Packer,  James  Frew,  James  Packer,  S.  A. 
Merrill,  S.  R.  Parkinson,  L.  L.  Hatch,  Mrs.  Robert  Hull,  and 
many  others  who  lived  in  Cache  Valley  in  1863  and  who 
still  reside  in  this  vicinity. 

The  proposed  monument  is  to  be  erected  on  the  exact 
spot  where  the  thickest  of  the  fighting  ocurred,  where,  it  is 
reported  it  was  possible  to  walk  on  dead  Indians  for  some 
distance  without  stepping  on  the  ground.  Fortunately  this 
is  on  one  of  the  main  traveled  roads  of  the  county  and  on 
one  of  the  trails  that  leads  from  Utah  and  the  south  to  the 
Yellowstone  National  Park.  Hundreds  of  tourists  will  see 
it  each  year  and  will  be  able  to  read  the  legend  of  the  battle 
and  the  names  of  those  who  fell  there  that  Idaho  might 
be.  Near  by,  a  small  spring  is  located  which  could  be  piped 
down  to  the  monument  and  could  be  used  in  watering  a 
small  grass  plot,  where  travelers  who  pass  back  and  forth 
along  the  road  might  rest. 

It  was  thought  by  the  committee  that  since  the  battle 
was  of  such  paramount  importance  to  the  entire  state  that 
it  would  be  in  order  to  ask  the  legislature  to  appropriate 

-2- 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


some  funds  toward  its  erection.  It  is  thought  that  if  the 
state  would  furnish  some  funds,  the  balance  could  be  raised 
within  the  county.  Such  an  arrangement  would  not  bur 
den  the  state  nor  the  county  and  would  add  greatly  to  the 
artistic  and  historic  interests  of  the  old  battled  field. 


NAMES  OF  THE  COMMITTEE 

H.  R.  Merrill,  Chairman Preston. 

W.  L.  Roe,  Jr.,  Publicity  Mgr Preston. 

L.  L.  Hatch  Franklin. 

A.  W.   Hart  Preston. 

James  Johnson  Preston. 

James  Geddes  Banida. 

Joseph  Hansen  Dayton. 

J.  N.  Larsen  Preston. 

William  Schuldberg Winder. 

J.  W.  Condie Preston. 

I.  H.  Nash  Preston. 

Taylor  Nelson  Riverdale. 

Torval  Keller Mink  Creek. 

H.  A.  Stephenson  Mapleton. 

Andrew  Mortenson   Glendale. 

S.  V.  Henderson  Clifton. 

George  Hoopes  Weston. 

John  A.  Dunkley  Whitney. 

Enoch  Peterson  Glencoe. 

Dave  Sant  Tresureton. 

Chris  Knudson  Fairview. 

Walter  Hatch  Oxford. 

B.  C.  Mecham,  S.  C.  Parkinson,  S.  J.  Callan,  County 
commissioners,  D.  G.  Eames,  Senator,  and  E.  P.  Monson, 
Representative,  ex-officio  members  of  the  committee. 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


8 

The  Battle 

"       ••       ••       "V 

he  state  of  Idaho  was  settled  permanently  first, 
at  Franklin,  Franklin  County,  by  a  small  band  of 
pioneers  and  trail  blazers  in  the  spring  of  1860. 
These  people  emigrated  from  the  vicinity  of  Salt  Lake  City 
and  other  towns  in  that  region  because  they  had  heard  of 
the  wonderful  fertility  of  the  soil  in  the  well  known  Cache 
Valley.  They  selected  a  spot  on  the  banks  of  Cub  River 
and  immediately  began  to  build  homes  and  prepare  to  re 
main  permanently  on  their  newly  possessed  farms. 

At  that  time  the  state  of  Idaho  was  a  vast  wilderness 
known  only  to  the  hunter  the  trapper,  the  prospector,  and 
the  Catholic  missionary.  Its  vast  wealth  was  not  even 
(•reamed  of,  its  resources  were  wholly  undeveloped.  Frank 
lin  then  was  on  the  extreme  out-skirts  of  civilization.  A 
thin  line  of  settlements  connected  it  with  Salt  Lake  City, 
but  that  line  was  so  puny  that  the  smallest  mistake  in  the 
treatment  of  the  numerous  and  populous  bands  of  Indians 
that  roamed  through  the  south  eastern  part  of  the  territory 
might  have  snapped  it  and  prevented  the  permanent  settle 
ment  of  the  state  for  an  indefinite  period  of  time. 

The  pioneers,  however,  realized  their  precarious  situa 
tion.  They  followed  the  policy  that  it  is  cheaper  to  feed 
than  to  fight  the  red  men.  This  policy,  though  it  pre 
vented  bloodshed  for  a  time,  led  the  Indians  to  believe  that 
their  word  was  supreme  law.  Since  Cache  Valley  was  used 
by  several  bands  as  a  winter  camping  ground,  their  de 
mands  were  often  unreasonable  and  burdensome. 

During  the  winter  of  1862-63  a  large  tribe  of  Indians, 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


under  the  leadership  of  Chiefs  Bear  Hunter  and  Sagwitch, 
were  encamped  near  the  mouth  of  what  is  now  Battle 
Creek  on  Bear  river,  about  twelve  miles  north  of  Franklin. 
The  Indians  selected  that  wintering  place  on  account  of  the 
sheltering  red  clay  bluffs  which  prevented  the  north  wind 
from  blowing  upon  their  wigwams.  The  high  clay  banks 
and  dense  growths  of  willows  that  lined  the  little  stream 
also  offered  opportunities  for  protection  against  the  cold; 
and  the  subterranean  hot  wells  of  the  region  warmed  the 
whole  surface  of  the  camping  ground. 

These  Indians  so  out  numbered  the  whites  that  they 
felt  they  had  only  to  ask  and  the  pioneers  would  be 
compelled  to  give,  consequently,  a  food  bin  was  maintained 
in  Franklin  to  which  the  settlers  contributed  and  from 
which  the  Indians  drew  when  in  need.  Wheat  was  not  the 
only  commodity,  however,  that  was  contributed  by  the 
white  men  to  their  red  brethren.  The  Indians^  feeling  im 
mune  from  punishment,  often  augmented  these  forced  gifts 
with  cattle,  chickens,  and  other  materials  which  they  stole 
outright  from  the  settlers. 

Conditions  had  grown  so  bad  by  mid- winter  1862  that 
the  settlers  in  northern  Cache  Valley  were  becoming  great 
ly  alarmed.  They  felt  that  at  any  moment  the  Indians 
might  sweep  dowrn  upon  them  and  drive  them  from  their 
homes  and  kill  many  of  them.  As  a  result  of  this  fear  which 
all  felt,  the  people  had  drawn  in  from  outlying  homes,  and 
were  living  most  of  the  time  in  the  fort  wrhich  had  been 
built  at  Franklin.  Since  the  little  log  cabins  which  had 
been  reared  with  much  toil,  represented  the  only  homes 
they  had,  the  outlook  was  anything  but  cheering  to  the  little 
band  of  settlers.  However,  an  incident  occured  toward  the 
close  of  the  year  which  terminated  in  the  almost  total  anni 
hilation  of  the  Indians  who  had  become  a  menace  by  day 
and  a  terror  by  night. 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


In  late  December,  David  Savage,  William  Bevins,  and 
a  company  of  men  came  down  from  the  mines  in  the  Sal 
mon  River  country  to  procure  supplies  and  cattle.  Not 
knowing  the  fords  across  Bear  river  and  being  somewhat 
confused  by  a  blinding  snow  storm,  they  followed  down  the 
west  side  of  the  river  to  a  point  somewhere  west  of  Rich 
mond,  Utah.  Here  they  stopped,  made  a  ferry  boat  of 
wagon  boxes  and  crossed  over  to  the  east  side.  As  the  last 
boat  load  was  crossing  the  river  some  Indians  who  had  fol 
lowed  the  travelers  from  Battle  Greek  began  shooting  at 
them.  One  man  was  killed  and  several  wounded.  The 
white  men  hid  in  some  brush  near  the  river  and  waited  for 
night  fall  when  they  made  their  way  to  Richmond  and  re 
ported  the  affair  to  the  authorities  of  the  town.  The  next 
morning,  Bishop  Mariner  W.  Merrill,  sent  some  men  out 
to  get  the  dead  body  and  whatever  property  the  Indians  had 
not  destroyed.  This  company  was  attacked  by  a  strong 
band  of  Indians  but  succeeded  in  getting  the  body  of  the 
dead  man  and  a  number  of  horses.  Mr.  Savage  and  his 
companions  were  sent  on  to  Salt  Lake  City  where  the  re 
port  of  the  actions  of  the  Indians  was  given  to  the  com 
mandant  at  Fort  Douglas  and  resulted  in  the  expedition 
against  the  red  men. 

After  the  shooting  of  the  white  man,  the  Indians  seized 
the  property  of  the  miners,  cut  their  good  wagons  into  bits, 
made  whip  stocks  of  the  spokes  of  the  wheels  and  showed  a 
decidely  mean  spirit  generally. 

Colonel  P.  Edward  Connor,  upon  hearing  the  report 
of  the  miners  fitted  out  an  expedition  for  the  purpose  of 
punishing  the  Indians.  In  his  report  of  the  matter  which 
he  sent  to  Washington,  and  which  is  on  file  in  the  \Vai  De 
partment  he  gives  the  following  reasons  for  his  actions: 
Colonel:  "I  have  the  honor  to  report  to  you  that  from  in 
formation  received  from  various  sources  of  the  encamp 
ment  of  a  large  body  of  Indians  on  Bear  river,  Utah  Terri- 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


tory  140  miles  north  of  this  point,  who  had  murdered  sever 
al  miners  during  the  winter,  passing  to  and  from  the  settle 
ments  in  this  valley  to  the  Bear  Head  mines,  east  of  the 
Rocky  Mountains,  and  being  satisfied  that  they  were  part 
of  the  same  band  who  had  been  murdering  emigrants  on 
the  Overland  Mail  Route,  for  the  last  fifteen  years,  ai.-d  the 
principal  actors  and  leaders  in  the  horrid  massacres  of  the 
past  summer,  I  determined,  although  the  season  was  un 
favorable  to  an  expedition  in  consequence  of  cold  weather 
and  deep  snow,  to  chastise  them  if  possible." 

Colonel  Connor  and  his  men  came  none  too  soon,  for 
the  Indians,  feeling  sure  that  their  numbers  guaranteed 
their  safety,  levied  tribute  more  determinedly  than  ever 
after  the  killing  of  the  miners.  On  January  27th,  Chief 
Rear  Hunter  and  a  party  of  warriors  went  into  Franklin 
and  demanded  twelve  two-bushel  sacks  of  flour.  Upon 
being  given  that  amount  they  demanded  more,  whereupon 
the  settlers  refused  and  the  Indians  performed  a  war  dance 
around  Bishop  Preston  Thomas's  house  all  the  time 
flourishing  their  tomahawks  and  threatening  the  people. 
The  following  day  Rear  Hunter,  in  company  with  two 
squaws  returned  to  the  settlement  for  wheat.  He  secured 
two  two-bushel  sacks  of  grain  which  the  squaws  took  with 
them  upon  their  horses  and  all  was  in  readiness  for  their 
departure  when  Colonel  Connor's  infantry  was  seen  cross 
ing  over  the  rise  south  of  town.  The  old  Chief  did  not  seem 
alarmed,  but  waited  for  their  approach.  As  the  soldiers 
drew  near  to  the  settlement,  the  old  Chief  dismounted  from 
his  horse  and  began  mimicing  the  march  of  soldiers. 

"Twos  right,  twos  left,"  he  would  cry,  "come  on,  you 
blue  coated  s —  -  of  b ." 

As  the  soldiers  drew  nearer  and  nearer  the  old  chief 
mounted  his  horse  and  prepared  to  leave.  Some  one  re 
marked,  "The  soldiers  are  getting  pretty  close,  perhaps 
you  will  get  killed." 

-7- 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


"May-be-so  soldiers  get  killed  to,"  he  replied  as  he  rode 
away  into  the  north,  followed  by  the  two  squaws. 

The  old  fellowr  must  have  been  a  little  more  afraid, 
however,  than  he  pretended  to  be,  as  his  sacks  of  wheat 
were  found  by  the  way-side  just  north  of  town.  It  was  evi 
dent  that  he  thought  it  unnecessary  to  carry  excess  baggage. 

In  the  meantime  the  infantry  marched  into  Franklin 
and  found  lodgment  in  as  good  quarters  as  the  settlers  could 
furnish.  Colonel  Connor  had  arranged  his  expedition  in 
two  detachments,  the  infantry  and  howitzers  which  led, 
and  the  cavalry  which  brought  up  the  rear.  He  did  this 
in  order  that  the  Indians  might  not  guess  his  strength  and 
escape.  His  scheme  worked  well  as  Bear  Hunter  saw  only 
the  infantry  and  felt  that  he  could  withstand  successfully 
their  assaults.  The  cavalry  did  not  reach  Franklin  until 
some  time  in  the  night. 

At  the  time  this  march  was  taken  the  weather  was 
extremely  cold.  The  snow  lay  deep  upon  the  ground  and 
the  thermometer  registered  below  zero  most  of  the  time. 
The  loud  creaking  of  the  army  wagons  as  they  lumbered 
through  the  Cache  Valley  towns  on  their  way  to  the  battle 
ground  is  still  a  vivid  recollection  in  the  minds  of  some  of 
the  older  inhabitants. 

When  Colonel  Connor  reached  Franklin  with  the  cavalry 
he  ordered  the  infantry  to  move  on  at  one  o'clock  n.  ai , 
but  owing  to  a  delaj7,  the  command  did  not  get  under  way 
until  three  o'clock.  About  one  hour  later  the  cavalry  mount 
ed  and  rode  out  in  the  wake  of  the  slower  infantry.  Being 
able  to  travel  much  faster  than  the  infantry  and  artillery, 
the  colonel  passed  the  vanguard  some  where  near  where 
Preston  now  stands,  and  hastened  on  to  Bear  river,  which 
he  reached  just  at  dawn.  The  Indian  camp  lay  north-west 
from  the  ford,  about  one  mile  distant.  Colonel  Cormor, 
fearing  that  the  Indians  might  escape,  ordered  Major  Mc- 
Garry  to  surround  the  camp  with  the  cavalry.  Since  the 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


Colonel  gives  a  very  vivid  description  of  the  engagement  in 
his  report  to  Washington,  we  give  here  his  exact  story  of 
the  battle.  He  remained  behind  a  short  time  to  give  orders 
to  the  infantry  and  artillery  as  it  came  up.  He  says: 

"On  my  arrival  on  the  field  I  found  that  Major  Mc 
Garry  had  dismounted  the  cavalry  and  engaged  with  the 
Indians  who  sallied  out  of  their  hiding  places  on  foot  arid 
on  horse  back  and  with  fiendish  malignity  waved  the  scalps 
of  white  women,  and  challenged  the  troops  to  battle,  and  at 
the  same  time  attacked  them.  Finding  it  impossible  to  sur 
round  them  in  consequence  of  the  nature  of  the  ground,  he 
accepted  their  challenge. 

"The  position  of  the  Indians  was  one  of  strong  natural 
defences,  and  almost  inaccessible  to  the  troops,  being  in  a 
deep,  dry  ravine  from  six  to  twelve  feet  deep  and  from 
thirty  to  forty  feet  wide,  and  with  abrupt  banks  and  runn 
ing  across  the  level  table  land,  along  which  they  had  con 
structed  steps  from  which  they  could  deliver  their,  fire 
without  being  themselves  exposed.  Under  the  embank 
ments  they  had  constructed  artificial  covers  of  \\Ulows, 
thickly  woven  together,  from  behind  which  they  could  fire 
without  being  observed.  After  being  engaged  about  twenty 
minutes,  I  found  that  it  was  impossible  to  dislodge  them 
without  great  sacrifice  of  life.  I,  accordingly  ordered 
Major  McGarry  with  about  twenty  men  to  turn  their  left 
flank,  which  was  in  the  ravine  where  it  entered  the  moun 
tains.  Shortly  afterward,  Captain  Hoyt  reached  the  ford 
three  quarters  of  a  mile  distant,  but  found  it  impossible  to 
cross  foot  men.  Some  of  them  tried  it  however,  rushing  into 
the  river,  but  finding  it  deep  and  rapid,  retired.  I  immed 
iately  ordered  a  detachment  of  cavalry  with  led  horses  to 
cross  the  infantry,  which  was  done  accordingly,  and  upon 
their  arrival  upon  the  field,  I  ordered  them  to  the  support  of 
Major  McGarry 's  flanking  party  who  shortly  afterward 
succeeded  in  turning  the  enemies'  flank.  Up  to  this  point 

-9- 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


in  consequence  of  being  exposed  on  a  level  and  open  plain, 
while  the  Indians  were  under  cover  they  had  every  advan 
tage  of  us,  fighting  with  the  ferocity  of  demons.  My  men 
fell  fast  and  thick  around  me,  but  after  flanking  them,  we 
had  the  advantage  and  made  good  use  of  it.  I  ordered  the 
flanking  party  to  advance  down  the  ravine  upon  either  side, 
which  gave  us  the  advantage  of  an  infilading  fire  and 
caused  some  of  the  Indians  to  give  way  and  run  toward  the 
north  end  of  the  ravine.  At  this  point  I  had  a  company 
stationed  who  shot  them  as  they  ran  out.  I  also  ordered  a 
detachment  of  cavalry  across  the  ravine  to  cut  off  the  re 
treat  of  any  fugitives  who  might  escape  the  company  at  the 
mouth  of  the  ravine.  But  few  tried  to  escape,  however,  but 
continued  fighting  with  unyielding  obstinacy,  frequently 
engaging  until  killed  in  their  hiding  places  hand  to  hand 
with  the  troops.  The  most  of  those  who  did  escape  from 
the  ravine  were  afterwards  shot  in  attempting  to  swim  the 
river  or  killed  while  desperately  fighting  under  cover  of  the 
dense  willow  thicket  which  lined  the  river  banks.  To  give 
you  an  idea  of  the  desperate  character  of  the  fight,  you  are 
respectfully  referred  to  the  list  of  the  killed  and  wounded 
transmitted  herewith.  The  fight  commenced  about  six 
o'clock  in  the  morning  and  continued  until  ten. 

"At  the  commencement  of  the  battle  the  hands  of 
some  of  the  men  were  so  benumbed  with  cold  that  it  was 
with  difficulty  they  could  load  their  pieces.  Their  suffer 
ing  during  the  march  was  awful  beyond  description,  but 
they  steadily  continued  on,  without  regard  to  cold,  hunger, 
or  thirst,  not  a  murmur  escaping  them  to  indicate  their 
sensibilities  to  pain  or  fatigue.  Their  uncomplaining  en 
durance  during  their  four  night's  march  from  Camp  Doug 
las  to  the  battlefield  is  worthy  of  the  highest  praise.  The 
weather  was  intensely  cold  and  not  less  than  seventy-five 
had  their  feet  frozen,  and  some  of  them,  I  fear,  will  be 
crippled  for  life." 

-10- 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


After  praising  his  men  for  their  excellent  conduct,  Col 
onel  Connor  says: 

"We  found  224  bodies  on  the  field,  among  which  were 
those  of  chiefs  Bear  Hunter,  Sagwitch,  and  Leight.  How 
many  more  were  killed  than  stated,  I  am  unable  to  say  as 
the  condition  of  the  wounded  rendered  their  immediate  re 
moval  a  necessity.  I  was  unable  to  examine  the  field.  I 
captured  one  hundred  and  seventy-five  horses,  some  arms, 
and  destroyed  over  seventy  lodges  a  large  quantity  of  wheat 
and  other  provisions  which  had  been  furnished  them  by  the 
Mormons.  I  left  a  quantity  of  wheat  for  the  sustenance  of 
one  hundred  and  sixty  captive  squaws  and  children  whom  I 
left  on  the  Field.  The  chiefs  Pocatello  and  San  Pitch, 
with  their  band  of  murderers  are  still  at  large.  I  hope  to 
be  able  to  capture  them  before  spring.  If  I  succeed  the 
Overland  Route  west  of  the  Rocky  Mountains  will  be  rid  of 
the  bedouins  who  have  harrassed  emigrants  on  the  route 
for  a  series  of  years.'" 

£         &         & 

The  list  of  the  killed  and  those  who  died  from  wounds 
follows: 

KILLED 
2nd  California  Cavalry 

Private  James  W.  Baldwin,  Company  A. 
Private  George  German,  Company  A. 
Private  Charles  L.  Hollowell,  Company  H. 
Private  John  H.  Briggs,  Company  H. 
Bugler  Christen  Smith,  Company  K. 
Private  Shelbourne  Reed,  Company  K. 
Private  Adolphus  Rowe,  Company  K. 
Private  Lewis  Anderson,  Company  K. 
Private  Henry  W.  Trempf.  Company  K. 
Private  George  C.  Cox,  Company  M. 

—11— 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


3rd  California  Infantry 

Private  George  W.  Hoton,  Company  M. 
Wagoner  Asa  F.  Howard,  Company  M. 
Private  John  TL  Baker,  Company  K. 
Private  Samuel  J.  W.  Thomas,  Company  K. 

DIED  OF  WOUNDS 
2nd  Califirnia  Cavalry 

Lieutenant  Darwin  Chase,  Company  K.,  February  4th, 
1863,  at  Camp  Douglas. 

Sergt.  James  Cantillon,  Company  H.,  February  5th, 
1863,  at  Camp  Douglas. 

Sergt.  Anthony  Stevens,  Company  M.,  February  6th, 
1863  ,  at  Camp  Douglas. 

Private  William  Davis,  Company  M.,  February  2nd, 
1863,  at  Ogden. 

Private  William  Slocum,  Company  K.,  Februray  5th, 
1863,  at  Camp  Douglas. 

Private  Michael  O'Brien,  Company  H.,  Februray  6th, 
1863,  at  Camp  Douglas. 

<*         &         ,* 

As  was  stated  by  Colonel  Connor,  the  intense  cold  and 
the  condition  of  the  wounded  rendered  an  immediate  move 
from  the  field  imperative.  Many  of  the  settlers  furnished 
teams  and  wagons  or  sleighs  with  which  to  haul  the 
wounded  and  dead  from  the  field.  These  were  taken  back 
to  Franklin  where  the  settlers  did  all  in  their  power  to  re 
lieve  the  suffering  of  the  living  and  make  them  comfortable 
Good,  clean  straw  was  put  in  the  meeting  house,  and  beds 
were  made  upon  it  for  the  wounded.  Several  of  the  settlers 
went  to  Salt  Lake  along  with  the  command  to  assist  in 
hauling  the  dead  and  the  wounded,  those  who  could  travel 
back  to  the  city. 

-12— 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


Many  of  the  pioneers  who  lived  in  Franklin  at  that 
time  and  who  opened  their  homes  to  the  soldiers,  declare 
that  they  did  it  freely  and  with  out  charge  as  they  felt  they 
had  been  rendered  a  great  service  by  the  boys  in  blue. 

There  is  quite  a  discrepancy  between  the  number  of 
Indians  reported  killed  by  Colonel  Connor  and  the  number 
of  dead  Indians  actually  counted  by  men  who  live  in  Frank 
lin  county  to.-day,  but  the  difference  may  be  accounted  for 
when  we  consider  the  Colonel's  haste  to  get  his  wounded 
men  to  shelter.  In  his  report  Colonel  Connor  reports  224 
dead  Indians,  but  that  the  number  was  very  much  greater 
is  certain.  The  Colonel  also  reported  that  one  hundred  and 
sixty  squaws  and  children  were  taken  captive,  whereas, 
a  number  of  living  pioneers  declare  that  the  number  of 
living  souls  who  came  through  the  bloody  fight  was  very 
small.  It  must  be  remembered  that  the  women  fought  as 
desperately  as  the  men  and  all  fought  like  tigers.  It  is  re 
ported  that  a  young  drummer  boy  fell  wounded,  and  that 
while  lying  upon  the  snow  two  Indian  lads,  mere  infants, 
ran  out  with  their  case  knives  and  attempted  to  cut  his 
throat,  and  might  have  succeeded  had  their  efforts  not 
been  stopped  by  the  Colonel  himself.  A  few  Indian 
babies  and  squaws  were  taken  to  Franklin  where  they  were 
cared  for  by  the  kind  hearted  people.  One  of  these  was 
reared  to  manhood  by  Samuel  R.  Parkinson.  He  was 
known  as  Shem  Parkinson  and  died  when  he  was  nearly 
twenty-five  years  of  age.  A  girl  was  taken  into  the  home  of 
William  Hull  where  she  was  reared  carefully  under  the 
name  of  Hull.  Later  in  life  she  married  and  reared  a 
respected  family,  dying  but  recently,  loved  by  many  people. 
These  were  the  only  two  of  the  children  that  survived  until 
they  were  grown. 

Colonel  Connor  was  mistaken,  too,  when  he  reported 
that  Chief  Sagwitch  was  among  the  killed.  Some  of  the 
pioneers  declare  that  the  cunning  old  chief  was  not  present 

-13- 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


at  the  battle  at  all,  while  a  few  say  he  was  present  and 
escaped.  Which  ever  version  is  correct,  it  is  certain  that  he 
was  not  killed  on  that  day  as  he  was  shot  many  years  later 
near  Brigham  City,  Utah.  The  son  of  Chief  Sagwitch  was 
in  the  battle  and  escaped  in  a  very  daring  fashion.  He 
ran  toward  the  river  during  the  engagement  with  several 
soldiers  in  hot  pursuit.  Upon  reaching  the  bank  he  fell 
into  the  water  as  though  dead,  while  the  soldiers'  volley 
whistled  harmlessly  overhead.  He  floated  under  the  ice 
and  made  for  an  air  hole  where  he  clung  with  his  head  just 
out  of  the  water  enough  to  allow  him  to  breathe  freely. 
While  in  this  position,  the  soldiers  sighted  him  and  fired 
upon  him.  He  withdrew  momentarily  from  the  opening, 
receiving  only  a  wounded  thumb.  The  soldiers  returned 
to  the  battle  field  and  the  courageous  young  fellow  swam  to 
a  bunch  of  willows,  where  he  lay  hidden  for  several  hours 
in  the  intense  cold.  How  he  ever  escaped  being  frozen  is 
a  wonder.  This  man  was  interviewed  at  his  home  in  Wasli- 
akie  a  few  years  ago  by  S.  P.  Morgan.  He  told  Mr.  Morgan 
that  twenty-two  young  bucks  escaped  in  various  ways  from 
the  vigilant  Connor.  He  also  stated  that  the  Indians  had 
planned  to  raid  the  white  settlements  as  soon  as  spring 
should  open  up. 

Bear  Hunter,  the  leading  chief  and  as  villainous  an  old 
fox  as  ever  wore  buckskin,  was  found  dead  by  his  fire. 
Evidences  pointed  to  the  fact  that  he  had  been  engaged  in 
moulding  bullets  when  death  came. 

The  battle  was  a  very  important  one  to  this  state,  as 
it  marked  the  close  of  the  real  Indian  troubles  of  this  sec 
tion  of  the  territory.  The  Indians  were  taught  a  lesson  that 
remained  with  them  for  many  years.  While  it  seems 
cruel  to  us  when  we  look  back  upon  the  affair,  yet  we  must 
remember  that  those  were  the  days  of  the  primitive — the 
fittest  survived. 

-14- 


The  Passing  of  the  Redman 


The  State  of  Idaho,  many  feel,  owe  the  brave  lads  who 
faced  the  dangers  of  a  one  hundred  and  forty  mile  march 
in  the  coldest  weather  of  winter,  a  debt  of  gratitude  which 
can  never  be  paid  to  them  personally,  but  which  can  be 
paid  to  their  memory  in  a  manner  that  will  not  only  show 
its  appreciation  of  the  services  rendered  it,  but  which  will 
add  beauty  and  interest  to  the  historic  scenes  of  their  death. 

The  pioneers  of  Franklin  county,  the  men  who  planted 
the  seeds  from  which  this  great  commonwealth  has  grown, 
feel  that  the  move  which  has  for  its  object  the  erection  of 
the  proposed  monument  is  a  worthy  one.  It  will  be  placed 
on  the  exact  spot  where  the  sacrifices  were  made,  and  will 
be  adjacent  to  one  of  our  most  important  ronds  where 
strangers  as  well  as  our  own  people  may  read  the  story 
of  the  event  and  look  upon  the  monument  not  'ilone  as 
commemorating  the  struggles  of  advancing  civilization, 
but  also  9  testimony  of  established  peace  between  the  white 
man  and  his  wild  brother. 


—15— 


